The Best Brunch in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick

With so many great places to eat in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick, finding the perfect spot for weekend brunch can be a hard decision. Sure, you could linger in line for two hours at Egg or Five Leaves — both serve an amazing brunch in pretty settings — but the wait can be excruciating. (We’ve listed them below for those who have more patience than us.) With new places opening constantly in North Brooklyn, its hard to keep up with where to go. You don’t have to. Here’s our list of favorite places to have brunch, updated for 2017.

Williamsburg

Sunday in Brooklyn is a market, a bar, a bakery and a restaurant all rolled into one with a perplexing name to boot. Confusing? Perhaps, but don’t let that get in the way of enjoying their superb cuisine. Located in the former home of Isa in South Williamsburg, Sunday in Brooklyn has some of the tastiest New American food in North Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Star is a Williamsburg gem that specializes in comfort food with a N’awlins twist. Their brunch features a handful of rib-sticking dishes like Shrimp and Grits, Chicken and Waffles, Fried Pork Chop, and Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. One warning: vegetarians will not have any options here — even the Bloody Mary has beef stock in it. Afternoon nap required.

Sick of bacon and eggs? Try Okonomi, a tiny Japanese restaurant on the Graham Avenue L Train stop. Okonomi serves up traditional Japanese set meals known as ‘Ichiju sansai’ that consist of miso soup, roasted fish, vegetables, and an egg served with rice.

Situated in the former home of South Williamsburg favorite Dressler. Meadowsweet has no pretense, just honest, beautifully prepared food. They recently received a Michelin star for their simple, yet delicious New American cuisine.

An American cafe on the quieter end of Bedford Ave great for a casual, low-key meal. Rabbithole is not a “destination” restaurant and that’s a good thing when you want a reliably good brunch or an unpretentious dinner spot. They have a small garden for outdoor dining in the warmer months.

An uber-popular breakfast and brunch joint. The food is fantastic but the lines on the weekends are excruciating. Still, if you have the patience, Egg is not to be missed. We recommend calling in sick on a Tuesday and heading to Egg.

Best brunch dish(es): Eggs Rothko – Easy-cooked egg in a slice of Amy’s brioche with Grafton cheddar.Average wait time: fuhgeddabouditBreakfast cocktail: A glass of white (they’re a beer and wine only establishment)

Rye has a lovely pre-prohibition era décor (they did it before it was trendy) and a fantastic Bloody Mary made with a touch of anise. It rarely gets too crowded for brunch and has a dimly lit dining room, which helps on those weekend mornings when you’re seeking solace with the hair of the dog.

A popular South Williamsburg restaurant with a crowd-pleasing menu of Southern comfort staples — Chicken ‘n’ waffles anyone? Though they specialize in Chicken and Catfish, there are a ton of vegetarian options as well like the Hippie Banjo (Egg, cheddar, avocado, tomato, sprouts & mayo on anadama) and cheese grits. Top it all off with a slice of Bourbon Pecan Pie and all is well with the world.

Best brunch dish(es): Anything that comes on, in, or beside one of their delicious biscuits.Average wait time: 45 minutesBreakfast cocktail: Beer and wine only — order a can of local craft beer.

A comfortable, yet spacious French Bistro with a long bar up front and a wood-burning stove in the back. Barricou opened in 2006 and has earned its reputation as a go-to spot for locals. They are very popular on weekends for Brunch.

The flagship restaurant at The Wythe Hotel by restaurateur Andrew Tarlow of Diner and Marlow & Sons fame. Expect seasonal American dishes in a beautiful restored warehouse setting. It’s a service included, tip-free zone, which softens the blow, slightly, when the check comes.

Greenpoint

A reliable neighborhood spot in North Greenpoint that serves delicious American fare. There’s a long bar up front offering cocktails, several local beers on tap, and a broad selection of wines. Brunch is popular on weekends and if you go, be sure to order their biscuits. A solid choice.

The understated space is warm and inviting, with black and white tiled floors, a raw bar, and a marble bar. For brunch, they serve a number of breakfast dishes (all fantastic) but its never too early in the day for a Lobster Roll!

Five Leaves sits on the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg and serves eclectic food at all hours of the day. Fresh flowers are everywhere you look, and the décor is nautically-themed which is always a plus in our books. Our favorite pancakes are from here on the weekend brunch menu, but we also love the truffle fries. On the downside, prepare to wait.

A fantastic and authentic Mexican restaurant in Greenpoint serving the family recipes of the married couple who owns it. The ambiance is drab, and the drinks are weak, but the food is always made-to-order and satisfying. The tamales are made in-house and are a standout. Brunch is available on weekends – and yes – they have a fantastic Huevos Rancheros.

Karczma

Of the handful of Polish restaurants in Greenpoint, Karczma is our favorite. The waitstaff all dress in traditional Polish outfits — cheesy but fun — and a handful of Eastern European beers are on tap. The menu consists of hearty Polish classics like pierogis, kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, blintzes, and potato pancakes. There’s no breakfast per se, but, as far as we’re concerned, Pierogis and a Kielbasa are a worthy substitution.

A slightly upscale take on classic American dishes. Esme has a bright, relaxed ambiance and great food. Grab a seat at their sunny bar, close to the espresso machine (their coffee is fantastic) for an ideal brunch. A true neighborhood joint.

Bushwick / East Williamsburg

A classic French bistro with all of the standards. If it’s warm, be sure to grab a seat in their lovely garden, the perfect soft for a Mimosa. Mominette is owned by the same team behind Williamsburg favorite, Le Barricou.

You KNEW Roberta’s would make the list. Brunch is our favorite time to go to there because if you arrive just before noon, it’s typically not a total clusterfuck. In case you’re somehow not familiar, Roberta’s is the iconic restaurant in Bushwick/East Williamsburg that put the neighborhood on the map as an essential foodie destination. Anthony Bourdain is a fan (of course) and the New York Times call Roberta’s “one of the more extraordinary restaurants in the United States.” We agree.

Just off the Morgan L Train stop, Tutu’s, a cute gastropub serving reasonably-priced American fare, has the vibe of a locals’ hangout. The dining room is adorned with dozens of paintings, seemingly hung at random above its spacious booths. It’s a stones throw away from Roberta’s, if the lines are too crazy there.

A casual place to have some of the best comfort food in Bushwick. It’s also great for brunch, especially if you’re craving baked eggs. Though the “Appalachian East coast country food” theme is a bit heavy-handed, Montana’s Trail House has quickly established itself as a go-to joint for locals.

A New England-style clam shack smack dab in the middle of Bushwick/East Williamsburg. The space, situated at a busy intersection, will nonetheless transport you to Cape Cod. The outdoor courtyard has ample seating and is a nice place to spend a weekend morning. The Brunch menu has a couple of breakfast dishes (Bacon and Egg Sandwich) in addition to their seafood baskets.

Tucked away down an alley, hidden from view in East Williamsburg/Bushwick is a gorgeous, pink Australian cafe. As lovely as a Thiebaud painting, the curiously named Carthage Must Be Destroyed, is situated in an old industrial warehouse which has been transformed into an enchanting homage to the color pink. The emphasis is on healthy, organic, breakfast dishes, sandwiches, and salad, all served at long family-style tables.Best brunch dish(es): The Parmesan Not-So-Scrambled Eggs with French sourdough bread, avocado and fresh greens.Average wait time: 20 minutesBreakfast cocktail: A smoothie (the don’t serve alcohol)

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